Purchasing AP online question

[♥ Mandi ♥]

Hi all,
I am looking to purchase our APs for November 2018 trip online now in order to save money before any price increases come out in the next 18 months.
When going to check out, the ONLY delivery option it gives me is "will call" - no mention of vouchers being mailed out at all. It says we'll have to provide the order confirmation number and bring IDs to will call to get the physical APs.
Do they still send out vouchers even though it isn't mentioned? I want to have these to link to our account before our trip so we can make FP+ reservations.

Also, is it a problem to be doing this 18mos in advance? I've read the AP vouchers don't expire, but want to be sure.

Please help!

 

[abnihon]

If you are signed into MDE when you purchase will it link. Then you just go to guest services with an ID and your MB to get the card and activate the AP.

 

[♥ Mandi ♥]

If you are signed into MDE when you purchase will it link. Then you just go to guest services with an ID and your MB to get the card and activate the AP.

Do you think I'll have a problem activating them after leaving them sitting inactive for so long?

 

[abnihon]

Hmm, that's a good question.
Maybe someone else can answer.
I bought mine 3 months before.
Does it say anywhere in fine print how far ahead you can buy them?

 

[Araminta18]

Following since I'm looking to do the same thing (for a trip in Sep 2018)

 

[♥ Mandi ♥]

Anyone know?

 

[DebbieB]

I ordered my last one online, it automatically linked to MDE. It sat there over a year and was fine.

 

[Marionnette]

My brother bought an AP when the 13-month offer was still available. It's sitting in his MDE without being activated and it shows an expiration date of Dec. 31, 2030. I can see it in my MDE since we're planning a trip together in the fall. He says that when he's logged into his account, it says that it's transferable (because he hasn't activated it yet?).

If you purchase online while logged into your MDE, it will link automatically. If you're not going to Disney for a while, save the confirmation email and bring a copy of it with you as proof of purchase just in case they cannot find a record of it.

You could always call to purchase your AP vouchers instead of buying online. IIRC, you can ask to have them mailed to you.

 

[Robo]

My brother bought an AP when the 13-month offer was still available. It's sitting in his MDE without being activated and

1. it shows an expiration date of Dec. 31, 2030. I can see it in my MDE since we're planning a trip together in the fall. He says that when he's logged into his account, it says that it's transferable (because he hasn't activated it yet?).

If you purchase online while logged into your MDE, it will link automatically. If you're not going to Disney for a while, save the confirmation email and bring a copy of it with you as proof of purchase just in case they cannot find a record of it.

2. You could always call to purchase your AP vouchers instead of buying online. IIRC, you can ask to have them mailed to you.

1. Correct. Expiration date of Dec. 31, 2030.
2. Yup. (Nothing needs to be mailed to the guest. The guest can go to any ticket booth or Guest Relations at WDW and
the AP will be activated (and the AP card given to the guest) at that time.
Having a certificate mailed still requires the same trip to the ticket/GR booth for activation, so no need to order
anything to be sent before the trip.

 

[MischaOz]

Hi, sorry to jump in here, but I have a related question. I was just wondering when the magic bands are issued? Can those be mailed before going to the ticket booth for activation so you will have them for your trip? This is for someone who is buying an AP but not staying in a Disney resort. Thanks!

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

Hi, sorry to jump in here, but I have a related question. I was just wondering when the magic bands are issued? Can those be mailed before going to the ticket booth for activation so you will have them for your trip? This is for someone who is buying an AP but not staying in a Disney resort. Thanks!

Some people have reported being able to customize AP bands prior to activating the AP, but for the vast majority, it can't be done until after.

I know a couple of parks were running a test where Guest Relations could give AP bands and sort of "check it off" in MDX, but my park wasn't one of them and I don't know if it worked out or if it's still being done. Obviously in this case they wouldn't be customized with a name.

 

[jcvalenti]

You can buy APs years ahead of activating them - I just bought one and it shows an expiration date of December 31, 2030 - so I would need to activate the ticket before that time. When you purchase the AP, you are given a purchase confirmation number (and also emailed a receipt). If for some reason the pass does not automatically link to your MDE account, you can use that confirmation number to link that ticket to your account.

Once you purchase your AP, you can use it to obtain AP discount pricing for tickets and reservations even though it is not yet active. I got tickets to MVMCP at a discount, but was told I would need to have an activated AP at the time I showed up for the party else there would be an issue.

As far as Magic Bands, the last time I bought APs (for trips in 2014-15), you could not pick up AP onsite. You could customize them online, but they would not be shipped to you until you activated your pass. That was idiotic (and I told Guest Services so), as it forced us to pay out of pocket for 4 Magic Bands to use while we were down there. I haven't seen anything to suggest that process has changed, but maybe you can call and get them pre-sent. Obviously, if you are staying offsite, you will be sent magic bands for your resort stay about a month before your check in date - and those will be linked to your MDE account ... so getting your "Annual Passholder" magic bands may not be a big issue for you.